John Wessells, center, shortly after his arrest in September 2006 on murder charges in connection with the killing of a woman and two teenagers in Newark.Star-Ledger file photo

NEWARK — John Wessells maintained his innocence for six years, denying any involvement in the September 2006 triple killing at a Newark apartment and waging a successful court battle to block a statement he gave to police.

Wessells and two other men were charged with fatally shooting a woman and two teenagers, wounding two others, then setting the home ablaze.

So when Wessells pleaded guilty Tuesday to reduced charges on the day his murder trial was to begin, the 30-year-old paused for several seconds before answering a judge’s question. Handcuffed, wearing glasses and clad in an argyle sweater vest, Wessells finally admitted he was pleading guilty because he had committed a crime.

"Yes," he told the judge in a near whisper.

Wessells pleaded to one of count of conspiracy to commit murder and three counts of aggravated manslaughter along with weapons possession for his role in the Sept. 2, 2006, shooting. Wessells alleged his co-defendants pulled the trigger.

Killed that night were the apartment’s tenant, 42-year-old Sandra Bellush, a former horse trainer who had moved from Morris County, Brielle Simpkins, 15, an Elizabeth High School cheerleader and Eric Jackson, a 19-year-old aspiring rapper from East Orange. Authorities said Bellush’s home was often a hangout for young people.

As part of the plea agreement, Wessells, who has no prior criminal convictions, will be sentenced to 12 years in prison on Jan. 8. He has already served six years, making him eligible for parole in about four years, authorities said. He will not be required to testify against the two alleged gunmen, the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office said.

The two alleged gunmen, Raheem Clay, 29; and Laquan Jackson, 28, are still charged with murder, attempted murder and related counts. The two, who have pleaded not guilty, fled to Indianapolis where they were arrested weeks later.

Investigators believe all three men had feuded with Bellush and her young friends. One dispute was over repayment of thousands of dollars Bellush lent one of the attackers, The Star-Ledger reported at the time. Another involved a beating Wessells sustained, allegedly at the hands of Simpkins’ boyfriend. He was shot but survived.

Authorities at the time believed the feud also involved drugs, but Assistant Essex County Prosecutor Linda Childs, who negotiated the plea deal, said there was no evidence to support that.

Childs acknowledged the case was a difficult one to prosecute. The fire set inside 546 Sanford Ave. left little evidence and Wessells’ suppressed statement further "weakened the case," she said.

Assistant Prosecutor Roger Imhof had been handling the case until he was promoted six months ago. That late change was one of the issues relatives of the victims say they have with an investigation Brielle Simpkins’ father, Shameil, called "a debacle."

"You get more time for getting caught with a bundle of dope," he said after the plea deal.

Brielle’s mother, who gave birth to her fourth child on the day her daughter was killed, believes police investigators lost evidence — including blood samples — and allowed potential witnesses to vanish. "They dropped the ball," said the woman, Stacey James-Marshall.

Authorities dispute that, and Childs said no evidence was lost but there was little of value after the fire. Witnesses, she added, were also prepared to testify at trial.